Station-indicator.



Patented Apr. I, I902.

.1. A. MEAD. STATION INDIGATOB.

(Application filed. July 27, 1901.)

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(No Model.)

wi hwoou M M a J. A. MEAD.

STATION INDICATOR. Applic'xition filed July 27, 1901 m i I M'iii Patented Apr. I, I902.

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llllmiln 1 UNTTETT S TaTns PATENT JOSEPH A. MEAD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

STATIDN INDICATOR.

SPEOIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 696,464, dated April 1, 1902. Application filed July 27, 1901. Serial No. 69,983. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. MEAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Station-Indicators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention aims to provide a novel machine for public conveyances-such as cars,

omnibuses, water-craft, and the like-for exposing to view in a conspicuous place or places the name of the next street, station, point of interest, or the next stopping-place, thereby adding to the interest of a trip and apprising passengers of the near approach of their destination in time to prevent the annoyance and loss of time occasioned by passing beyond the street or station.

The indicator comprises a name-strip, two drums, one for the strip to wind upon, the other for the strip to unwind from, actuating means for the drums to impart an intermittent rotation thereto to bring the names of the streets, stations, and the like successively into position for observation through a sightopening, and means for regulating the throw of the actuating means proportionate to the variation in the diameters of the two drums incident to the unwinding of the name-strip from one and the winding thereof on the other.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stationindicator embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation with the near side of the case removed. Fig. 3 is a rear view, the back of the casing being omitted. Fig. 4. is a section about on the line X X of Fig. 2 looking toward the front. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the set of mountings for the regulating-rollers.

Fig. 6 isa detail view of a clutch-wheel,clutchlever, and parts cooperating therewith.

Corresponding and-like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The operating parts are inclosed in a casing or cabinet 1, having an observation-opening 2 in its front for exposing to view the names of the streets, stations, towns, and other points of interest along the prescribed route of a car or other public conveyance. The indicator is located in a conspicuous place, so as to be readily seen by the passengers, and in the event of the conveyance being of such construction so that the indicator cannotbe seen by all the passengers two or more may be provided and properly arranged, so as to insure proper notification of the stations. Drums 3 and 3 are located within the casing and are arranged in parallel relation and are secured to axles 4. and 4., journaled in bearings provided in a frame 5, located within the said casing. A name-strip 6, of suitable length, has its ends attached to the respective drums and is normally wound upon one of the said drums, so as to be unwound therefrom and wound upon the other drum as the car or conveyance moves from one terminus of a prescribed route to the other terminus. This strip 6 may be oiled linen or other prepared textile, and the names of the streets, stations, or other points are printed or otherwise providedthereon in successive order. This name strip passes across the observation-opening 2 and in front of a support 7, thereby bringing the name into view, so as to apprize the passengers of the next street, station, or other point.

Each of the axles t and t is provided at its outer end with a hand-wheel 8 for rotation of the drums and is provided at its opposite end with a flange 9, constituting an element of abrake mechanism. Plates 10 and 11 constitute the other element of the brake mechanism and receive the flange 9 between them. The plates 11 are secured to a side of the easing and form bearings for the inner ends of the respective axles. The plates 10 are adjustable by means of clamp-screws 12,1etinto a side of the casing and passing through the plates 11. By properly adjusting the clampscrews 12 the plates 10 can be moved to grip ICO the flanges 9 with a greater or less force, thereby permitting the drums to move with a greater or less degree of resistance. It is necessary to apply a brake to each of the drums in order to prevent their turning too freely when suddenly actuated by means of the pull rope or cord. The construction of brake shown provides a hearing as well as a retarding means for the axle of the drums and the braking force can be readily adjusted. Frames 13 and 13 are loosely mounted upon an end portion of the respective axles, so as to oscillate thereon. These oscillatory frames are limited in their outward movement by stops 14 and 14, applied to a part of the internal frame 5. Olevises 15 and 15 are connected to the respective frames 13 and 13 at their inner ends and have connection at their outer ends with springs 16 and 16, which normally serve to hold the said frames in contact with the stops. Clutch-levers 17 and 17 are pivoted at their inner ends to the respective oscillatory frames 13 and 13 at 18 and 18, the said pivots also serving to connect the clevises 15 and 15 with the respective frames. The pivots ot' the clutch-levers 17 and 17 are arranged near one corner, leaving the opposite corner free to grip the clutch-wheels 19 and 19 when the clutch-levers are actuated. The clutch-wheels 19 and 19 are secured to the axles near their outer ends. Springs 20 and 20 normally hold the clutch-levers out of engagement with the clutch-wheels, thereby permitting the drums to turn freely. These springs 20 and 20 are secured to their respective oscillatory frames 13 and 13 at theirin ner ends, and their outer ends pass through clips 21 and 21, secured to the outer or free ends of the respective clutch-levers. The sole purpose of these springs 20 and 20 is to hold the clutch-levers out of contact with the respective clutch-wheels,and the springs 16 and 16 return the frames 13 and 13, carrying the clutch-levers, to a normal position and hold them against the respective stops 14 and 14. Cords or straps 22 and 22 are attached at their inner ends to the clips 21 and 21 and pass around pulleys 23 and 23, and are provided at their outer ends with clips 24 and 24, the inner ends of said clips being provided with rubber or other packing to obviate noise and shock. Retracting-springs 25 and 25 are secured at their outer ends to the easing and have their inner ends in engagement with the clips 24 and 24, so as to hold them in a normal position, thereby relieving the springs 16 and 16 from any interference of the operating-cords which would be likely to retard their action. The operating-cords 26 and 26 are connected to the respective clips 24 and 24. One of the cords, as 26, is designed to be operated upon the out trip of the car or conveyance and the other cord 26 is intended to operate the indicator upon the return trip of the car or conveyance. One

- clutch mechanism is used only at a time, the

other remaining inert. Upon the out trip the clutch mechanism cooperating with the drum 3 is used only, since the name-strip is wound upon the drum 3 and unwound from the drum 3. Upon the return trip of the car or conveyance the other clutch mechanism connected with the drum 3 is utilized to rewind the name strip thereon, said strip unwinding freely from the drum 3. As the name-strip unwinds from one drum and winds upon the other drum the diameters vary, and in order that the name-strip can be moved an equal distance for each station it has been found necessary to provide means for regulating the throw of the oscillatory frames carrying the clutch-levers proportionate to the variation in the diameters of the respective drums incident to the changing of the name-strip from one to the other. frame 27 is slidably mounted and is provided with adjustable stops 2S and 28, the same consisting of pins or rods threaded into the ends of the part 27 and arranged in the path of the respective clutch-1evers17 and 17, so as to limit their inward or forward movement when the operating cord or rope is pulled upon. Rollers 29 and 29 bear upon the drums 3 and 3 or the portion of the namestri-p Wound thereon,and the axes of these rollers are in line with the axes of the drums 3 and 3, this arrangement being found to give the best results. The rollers 29 and 29 extend approximately the full length of the drumsand serve to keep the name-strip smooth as well as to shift the bar or frame 27. The rollers 29 are mounted at their ends in plates or hangers 30 and 31, hung upon pivots 32, and these plates are adjustable to vary the distance between the rollers 29 and 29 and when adjusted are secured by means of bolts or fastenings 33. The fastenings 33 are applied to one of the plates, as 31, and pass through a curved slot 34 in the plates 30. One of the plates, as 30, is extended, as shown at 35, and passes between knife-edged bars 36 of the frame 27. The distance from the axis of the rollers 29 and 29 to the center of the pivots 32 is equal to the distance from the center of said pivots to the point of contact between the extension and the frame 27. This arrangement is necessary in order to preserve a proportionate movement between the drums, rollers, part 27, and clutch-levers. When winding the name-strip upon one of the drums, the plates 30 and 31 are loosened, and after the winding has been completed and the outer end of the name-strip has been attached to the other drum the rollers 29 and 29 are moved apart until they bear against the respective drums, after which the fastenings 33 are tightened to secure the parts 30 and 31 in the adjusted position. Suppose the namestrip is wound upon the drum 3. Hence when starting upon the trip and prior to reaching the first street, station, or other point to be called to attention the conductor or motorman pulls the cord or rope 26, thereby actuating the clutch -lever 17 and causing the For this purpose a bar or.

drum 3 to turn a distance to bring the name of the street or station opposite the opening 2 in the casing for observation. This operation is repeated for each street, station, or point along the line of route. The clutchlever 17 is out of contact with the clutch wheel 19. Hence the name-strip can unwind freely from the drum 3 when winding upon the drum 3. As the diameter of the drum 3 increases by reason of the name-strip winding thereon, the rollers 29 and 29 move therefrom and proportionately move the frame or bar 27 toward the clutch-lever 17, thereby shortening the throw of the latter and insuring an equal amount of name-strip being wound upon the drum 3 at each actuation of the clutch-lever 17. Then the end of the route is reached and the car or conveyance begins a return trip, the clutch-lever 17 is actuated by means of the cord or rope 26, thereby winding the name-strip upon the drum 3 and unwinding it from the drum 3. The clutch-levers may be operated in anydesired manner, and it is not essential that either the conductor or lnotorman give attention thereto. In the event of the route being endless or of the belt type it is necessary when the end of the route is reached that the namestripbe un-' wound from the drum 3 and wound upon the drum 3" preliminary to beginning the next trip. This can be readily effected by means of the hand-wheels 8 or equivalent means applied to the projecting ends of the axles.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is 1. In a station-indicator, a name-strip, a drum for winding up the name-strip, intermittent actuating mechanism for the said drum embodying a clutch-lever, a stop for limiting theforward movement of the clutch-lever,and means for adjusting the position of the said stop and controlled by variation or change in the diameter of the drum incident to the winding of the name-strip thereon, substantially as set forth.

2. In a station-indicator, a name-strip, a drum,intermittently-actuated mechanism for windingthe name-strip upon the drum and including a clutch-lever, a. stop for holding the clutch-lever in a normal position and limiting its return throw, an adjustable stop for limiting the forward throw of the said clutch-.

lever, and means controlled by the change in diameter of the aforesaid drum to vary the position of the adjustable stop to admit of a like amount of the name-strip being wound upon the drum at each actuation substantially as set forth.

3. In a station-indicator, companion drums, a name-strip adapted to wind upon one of the drums and unwind from the other drum, intermittently-actuated means for one of the drums including a clutch-lever, a stop forlimiting the forward movement of the said clutchlever, and means for changing the position thereof,

of the said stop proportionate to the variation in the diameters of the two drums, said means embodying cooperating elements in contact with the respective drums, substantially as set forth.

a. In a station-indicator,companion drums, a name-strip, intermittently-actuated means for winding the name-strip upon one of the drums and unwinding it from the other drum means for one of the drums including a clutchlever, a slidably-mounted frame having a portion extended in the path of the clutch-lever to limit its forward movement, pivoted plates or hangers provided with elements in contact with the respective drums, means for securing the said plates in an adjusted position, and a connection between one of the said plates and the slidable frame, the elements supported by the said plates being in line with the axis of the said drums and the distance between the pivotal support for the said plates and the elements carried thereby at the point of contact with the slidable frame being substantially equal, as and for the purpose set forth.

(3. In a station indicator, cooperating drums, intermittently-actuated means for the said drums comprising clutch-levers, a slidable frame having portions extended in the path of the said clutclrlevers to limit their forward movement, and means controlled by the change in diameter of the drums to vary the position of the slidable frame and the consequent forward throw of the clutch-levers, substantially as set forth.

7. In a station indicator, cooperating drums, a'nam e-strip,intermittently-actuated means for the drums to effect a Winding of i the name-stri p thereon, flanges rotatable with the drums, plates having the flanges between them, and means for adjusting the said plates to grip the flanges more or less tightly to prevent the too free movement of the drums, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. MEAD. 8.] 

